Steph Macpherson Album Release Show @ Media Club -- 10/01/15

It seems like everyone chose the first of the month to plan their shows. And while there was a number of events to choose from that night, the one I was looking forward to was the Vancouver album release show for Steph Macpherson's new album, Stones.
In the three years since her last album was out, Steph ran a successful IndieGoGo campaign to help her travel down to Nashville, TN to make her new album with Juno-winner Steve Dawson. And while the results of that journey will be released at the end of next week (Oct 9), she kicked off her album release tour in Vancouver. 

The first Steph of the night was Stephanie Chatman. I have seen her performing with about 74% of all Vancouver bands, backing them on violin, occasionally a part of the Four on the Floor String Quartet, but this time she was showcasing her own solo material. On stage alone with just an acoustic guitar and her soft, lovely voice, she started off with "Norway", from her EP Compass Rose. Aside from her own songs, she did a cover of Father John Misty's "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)", and was joined by her "special friend" Andrew Phelan from The River & The Road for a nice duet. 
She ended the set with a song she introduced as a "mellow song", though most of the set had a similar mellow, sit-down-and-drink-some-whiskey vibe. 

The next act was Macpherson's touring partner, Noah Edwards. He had a fun, catchy 90's-tinged pop-rock, with a good energy.
A few songs stuck out, one called "Matchstick" that was a bit darker than the rest of the set, and a newer song he played acoustically, letting his band take a break, called "Shoreline". He also pulled out a cover song, choosing to go a little more classic with "Dancing in the Dark". 

Jasper Sloan Yip was up next, packing the stage with his band, which, yes, included Stephanie Chatman as part of this three-piece string section, as well as backing vocals. The set mostly focused on his latest album Foxtrot, and Jasper's great ability to seamlessly flow from bouncy, upbeat songs like and "Show Your Teeth" to the more soft-spoken and intimate songs like "Love, and All its Opposites". Sometimes even shifting in the same song, as with "It Must be True". 
He brought the set to a close with the pairing of the soft, piano-and-strings driven "Indian Summer" quickly building into a chaotic ending which segued perfectly into the explosive "Horseshoes", Jasper shredding on his guitar.

And finally, to celebrate her new album, was Steph Macpherson. She started the set off with track one from Stones, "Lie Beside You", pouring her heart out with the lyrics "I want to lie beside you, not to you", and ran through most of the album; such as the biting "Everything You Don't Do" and beautiful harmonies with guitar player Christian Down on "Cerulean Blue". Other highlights included the title track "Stones", and one of my favourites of the new album, the hard-hitting single "You Got Mean". 
I always enjoy a well-put-together set, and Steph's grew in intensity as it went on, culminating in a pair from her last album Bells & Whistles, "Silver Platter" and "The Verdict" as Steph's strong voice sailed over top of her driving guitar, closing out the night without bothering with the faux-encore. 

Since I first saw her in the 2010 Peak Performance Project, I have seen Steph Macpherson play a few times, and this was the strongest yet. I really enjoyed the set, and hopefully Steph will be back soon on a night that is much less busy. 

setlist
Lie Beside You, Home, Everything You Don't Do, Spark, Cerulean Blue, Wood & Nails, Stones, You Got Mean, Silver Platter, The Verdict. 

Rykka @ Fox Cabaret -- 09/25/15ener

Rykka has been a little quiet since winning the 2013 Peak Performance Project. But only because she has been hard at work on her new album, splitting her time between Canada and Switzerland. Just last month she released the first single from it, and this weekend she returned to Vancouver for a taste of some new songs at the Fox Cabaret. 

Opening the night was current PPP top 12 artist Little India. The Langley four-piece played indie-pop that had a hint of influence from the early 00's indie-rock/post-punk wave of bands. 
The band teased some new songs, as well as well as their current Peak single "Oola". I though they put on a fine set, but nothing really stood out for me until the last couple songs; I didn't get the name of either, but the latter started moody and intense, before ramping up to an explosive ending. 
The young band has been doing well in radio competitions the last few years -- aside from The Peak, snagging Best of BC on the now-defunct The Shore and winning Fox Seeds -- and I'll be interested to see how they progress. 

Thanks to the curfew for the show, it wasn't long before Rykka was out, with a slimmed down backing band of Jason Cook on drums and Andrew Braun on keys and bass (sometimes both in the same song). She also brought onstage a small, personal trampoline, which just added to her already lively, bubbly energy as she occasionally bounced while singing and playing the drum pad. 
She immediately launched into her breakthrough single "Blackie", followed by "Maps Inside" from her last album Kodiak, getting the crowd into it right away, before leading us into a couple new songs. They had the same eletro-rock explosiveness as her previous album, but also felt like a nice progression of her sound.
Mid-way through the set, she brought things down for a moment with the beautiful "Grasslands", before Cook & Braun took a break while Rykka did a chilled out version of The Police's "Roxanne" on guitar. 
A couple of the new songs that stood out came later in the set, and back to back: a somewhat existential song which I think may have been called "A Hundred Years", followed by an R&B-pop-infused hit that, mark my words, is destined to be a giant crossover hit. 
After her ridiculously catchy new single "Movies" she wrapped up the main set with the appropriately titled "Electric", getting the crowd clapping along. But of course she was back out for an encore, playing one last, new song. 

I've always enjoyed seeing Rykka perform -- even back before her Ryan-Guldemond-mentored transformation from Christina Maria to Rykka -- and this show reminded me of that. I don't think the new album has a release date quite yet, but based on what I heard, I am definitely looking forward to it.

setlist
Blackie, Map Inside, Bad Boy*, Tickety-Boo*, The Brink, Grasslands, Roxanne [Police cover], Ghosting*, Down in the Depths, A Hundred Years*, Running Away*, Movies, Electric.
(encore) Chasing Dark.*
*(some of the new songs may be named incorrectly, based on my ability to hear or guess from the chorus)

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

The Dears @ Fox Cabaret -- 09/19/15

You know that thing where one of your favourite bands takes a few years to put out new music and tour, and then when they finally do, you are a little anxious? What if you built up the status of their shows in your head? What if it can't live up to your internal hype? What if, what if, what if? 
Well, it's been four years since the last time we heard new music from The Dears, and just as long since I've seen them live. But they returned to Vancouver, a week ahead of the release of their latest album Times Infinity, Volume 1, for a show at the Fox Cabaret. 

I came in part way through the opener, Halifax's Vogue Dots. It was apparently the first time playing in Vancouver for the dreamy, ethereal electronic pop band. I only caught the last few songs, one of which was a cover of fellow Haligonians Cousins, and their song and a haunting song called "Way with Silence"

After some last-minute troubleshooting and cable swapping on stage, "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)" filled the air and the five members of The Dears took the stage, Murray A Lightburn front and centre, flanked by Natalia Yanchak on keys and Patrick Krief on guitar, and backed by drummer Jeff Luciani and Roberto Arquilla on bass. 

They came out of the gate with the first couple songs from the new album, "We Lost Everything" and "I Used to Pray For the Heavens to Fall" with their cinematic intensity, as they went into a tight set spanning their twenty year career. 

Highlights included the soaring "Here's To the Death of All the Romance",  an incredible singalong  to "Lost in the Plot" with Murray stepping off the mic to belt out the chorus with the crowd, and one of my absolute favourite songs, "You and I Are A Gang of Losers". It had an unparalleled emotional intensity to it that nearly brought a tear to the eye. 

Throughout the show, Murray didn't say too much, as it was a curfewed show and likely he wanted to let the music speak for itself. But his dry humour did shine through a couple times, especially in his plea for people not to listen to the album on laptop speakers (and a great description/miming of the mixing process). 

After what felt like not nearly enough time the band wrapped up with, appropriately enough, the last song on the album, "Onward and Downward", a gorgeous song featuring Natalia taking lead on vocals. 

Due to the curfew the encore came quickly as Murray took the stage alone explaining if it was up to him, they'd play all night, but they had to hurry. So he launched into a sped up and upbeat version of "The Second Part", with the band joining in part way through. 
(Murray joked after that someone at their laptop would essentially say "they changed it now it sucks!" but I dug the pepped up version. Plus I am writing on a desktop computer). 
And finally, they brought the house down with their last song, the biggest singalong of the night, and another one of my favourites, "22: The Death of All the Romance". They split the room between genders, girls singing along with Natalia and boys with Murray, for another incredibly powerful performance, culminating with Murray at the tip of the stage on guitar to cap off an emotionally exhausting show.  

In the end, all of my aforementioned worries were for naught. Aside from the sound at the Fox not being the best -- a few times Lightburn's vocals seemed a bit low, but it was nothing that really took away from the show -- they still had the same incredible energy and passion as they've always had. The whole band is amazing, especially Krief shredding on guitar, but especially the pure, raw emotion that Lightburn pours into every song. I just really hope it's not another four years until next time.

setlist
We Lost Everything; I Used to Pray For the Heavens to Fall;  Who Are You, Defenders Of The Universe?; Whites-Only Party; 5 Chords; Disclaimer; Here's to the Death of All the Romance; You and I Are a Gang of Losers; Hate Then Love; Lost in the Plot; Face of Horrors; Onward and Downward.
(encore) The Second Part; 22: The Death of All the Romance.

Tokyo Police Club @ Imperial -- 09/18/15

The great part about Rifflandia weekend is that even if you are not going to Victoria, if you are stuck in Vancouver, half the bands end up coming to you anyway. 
That was the case last night as there was an embarrassment of concert riches in Vancouver, and even if you couldn't make it to, say, Modest Mouse at Malkin Bowl... there were still great options like Tokyo Police Club at the Imperial.

Opening the night was Kamloops band Van Damsel. And even though they've been in the Peak Performance Project twice now, seeing them live somehow eluded me, so I was interested to check them out. 
The four-piece came out and launched into a funky instrumental number before addressing the crowd, saying they were happy to be there, met with woos and applause (an unofficial survey from on stage saw that there were more than a few other Kamloopers in the audience). 
They put on a solid set filled with energetic and catchy alt-pop-rock, with a bit of a 90s vibe. Lead singer Sebastien Ste Marie captivating the crowd, occasionally getting right down to the front of the stage, and leading clapping and waving of arms. 
They played for about half an hour and ended with their current hit, "Best of Everything" -- probably the highlight of their set -- and while it was nothing groundbreaking, it was a fun, high-energy set. And I won't be surprised when they at least place in the top three for the PPP this year, if not win.

It wasn't too long before Tokyo Police Club hot the stage under the giant banner with their name on it (in case we forgot). They are actually one of those bands that I have always enjoyed when they come on the radio, but never really delved more into. However their live shows are really fun, and since it had been five years since I last saw them, I figured it was about time. 
They opened the set with "Breakneck Speed", fitting in both the pace of the energy (high) and the repeated line in the chorus, "it's good to be back", with the feeling that singer David Monks was addressing Vancouver. 
From there they blasted through their high energy indie-rock songs, reminding you of just how many hits the band has; the power-pop anthem "Hot Tonight", the crunchy "Favourite Colour", the darker and edgier "Tunnel Vision", "Toy Guns" with its increasingly poignant theme. And that was just in the first half of the set. 
The highlight for me was all three parts of the ambitious 9-minute long "Argentina", winding from bouncy and upbeat, to moody and thoughtful, to spiralling instrumental portions, and right back to an catchy ending. I actually thought that would be the finale of the main set, but they had a few more songs for us before wrapped up with a pair of old favourites, "Wait Up (Boots of Danger)" and the raucous "Your English Is Good". 
And of course, they were back soon for a few more. First just Monks and drummer Greg Alsop came out at first for the encore, playing a request of "Hands Reversed" before being joined once more by keyboardist Graham Wright and Josh Hooks on guitar for a rockin' cover of Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" and in one final burst of manic energy, "Cheer It On". 

The first time I saw Tokyo Police Club, something like eight years ago, they sped through their headlining set in about 40 minutes, bursting with energy. And which they still have the same energy, they have managed to pace it out a bit more (having a few more albums to draw from probably helps) for what is still an incredibly fun show.

setlist
Breakneck Speed, Hot Tonight, Favourite Colour, Not Sick, Miserable, Tunnel Vision, Toy Guns, PCH, End of a Spark, Bambi, Shoulders and Arms, Be Good, Argentina (Parts I, II, III), Nature of the Experiment, Frankenstein, Wait Up (Boots of Danger), Your English is Good.
(encore) Hands Reversed, Since U Been Gone [Kelly Clarkson cover], Cheer It On.